Man flees, then jailed

Published: July 20, 2003 8:00 PM

A Cambridge man faces possible felony charges after he allegedly stole audio equipment from a local retailer late Sunday evening and attempted to run down a teen-ager with his automobile while fleeing the scene.

Michael P. Smith, 36, remained in jail Monday morning on a felony hold pending the results of an investigation by the detective bureau of the Cambridge Police Department.

According to reports, patrolmen Phil Hall, Frank Stroud and Bill Hickman were dispatched to Wal-Mart about 11 p.m. regarding a report that a man ran from the store carrying merchandise, tripping the security alarm. Several people reportedly attempted to stop him, including a 15-year-old Cambridge boy.

As the suspect fled in a maroon mini van, he attempted to run over the boy, police said.

A store manager told Hall that, shortly before the suspect fled the store, he was stopped while attempting to leave with a cart of merchandise. Asked for a receipt, he reportedly claimed he already gave it to the employee, and said he checked out the items at a register which was determined not to have been used for a couple of hours.

[Article continues below]

The license plate of the vehicle in which the suspect fled was traced to a Wheeling Avenue address. A maroon mini van was reportedly located there.

Hall and Guernsey County Sheriffs Dep. Curtis Braniger confronted Smith there, allegedly finding him clothed in a shirt matching witnesses description and installing a car stereo. He was taken into custody, and a Pioneer car stereo and satellite radio receiver seized.